Watch and similar timepiece



Dec. 1933. E L. CARLSON I WATCH AND SIMI LAR TIMEPIECE Filed July 27, 1932 J/JV P *r @7 Patented Dec. 19, 1933 PATIENT OFFICE 1,939,763 WATCHAND SIMILAR 'rIMErIEoEf Elof L. Carlson, BristoL Conn assignor 'to The E. Ingraham Company, Bristol, Conn., a corporation ,Application July 2 7, 1932. Serial Nb. 624,952 14 Claims. (01. 58-90) This invention relates to'watches and similar timepieces, and particularly to means foreffectively supporting-the stems thereof; and it em:

bodies improvements over the invention disclosed g in my co-pending application for patent for Cases for timepieces filed January 30,, 1932, Serial No. 589,786. V The invention .has particular reference to watches .of the wrist-strap'type in which the movement is mounted in a case composed of two complemental flanged. case members-the flanges of whi'chare adapted'for telescoping engagement and are provided with suitable complemental notches, so that when the case members are so engagedwith the movement assembly between them, these notches will combine to form an opening which will permit the stemlto extend exteriorly of the case. a

In watches the cases of which are thus conao structed, certain difllculties have been encountered in suitably supporting thestem relatively to .the movement and in effectively excluding dust and otherextraneous matter from the interior. of. the case.

It has been ascertained, from experience, that supporting means for the stem, in order to be really effective, must be rigidly mounted with relation to the watch-movement, so that the J stemwill be rigidlysupported andlocated'rela 3o tively to the movement rather than to the case and thus prevent lateral "play and the binding or cramping of the stern which might result therefrom. The main'object of the'invention is, therefore, to provide in awatch or other timepiece, particularly of the type referred to, means for supporting and guiding'the stem; and particularly that portion of same which extends exteriorly of the case, in such a manner that, al-

,40 thoughthe stem maybe free for the rotation "necessary in winding and setting the timepiece, any lateral movement'will be substantially prev'ented'and the-stem will always be maintained in such position that its inner operative'end will lie in proper relation to the. parts operatively connected with it. The means whereby this support of the stem isaccomplished'is also providedwitli an-arrangement whereby dust and other extraneous matter may be prevented from entering the case and thereby coming in contact with the partsof the movement;

Theinvention contemplates the combination, in a watch orthe like, having a movement of ordinary'type and a case of means for rigidly supporting" the winding and setting stem of the movement in predetermined; relation to the movement, these means comprising a bushing member rigidly mounted upon a fixed part of the movement supporting frame'and provided not only with a bearing thereon but also with a bearing in the case, itself; and the invention consists further in various details of this bush ing member and the manner in which it is associated with other. parts, as will be explained hereinafter more fully and finally claimed.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating the invention, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated,

Fig. 1 is aback view of a wrist watch of the conventional baguette type, to which the invention is applied.

' Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional 'elevationtakenon the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; partsv being brokenlaway in the interestof clearness. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the winding stem and its bearing elements detached. V

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line, 5-5v of Fig.4. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the bushing member'which provides bearing for the stem,- and Fig. '7 is an elevation of the stem. 1 p Q The watch movement proper, parts of which only are illustrated in the drawing, comprises the usual back 'm'ovement plate 1 and. front movement. plate 2 connected and supported-in suitable spaced relation by the customary pillars (not shown), and these plates have arranged between them and rigidly supported; by them, when they are appropriately connected, a bridgeplate 3 '(see particularly Figs. 2, 4 and 5) having corner-lugs 4 and 5 whichengage suitable locating and supporting bearing: openings in the back and front mounting-plates l and 2 respectively. e y The winding and setting pinion 6 is, inv accordance with the present inventiomsomewhat modified from its usual form and includes a cylindrical hub '7 extending through a complemental opening 8 in the bridge-plate 3 so as to have a rotative bearing therein. -As will be seen by refflange 11 in engagement with the bridge-plate and forming a relatively extensive lateral bearing for the bushing member. By this arrangement of parts, it will be seen that the pinion 6 and the flange 11 of the bushing member 9 both bear against the bridge-plate 3 in such a manner 'as to be rotatable relatively thereto but relatively rigid on their axis of rotation.

The bushing 9 has an axial bore 12 which communicates with a bore 13 in the hub 7 of the pinion 6, these two bores providing a bearing r'fior the stem 14 which has a square .or other noncylindrical end 15 to provide a turning connection between the stem and the pinion 6, the .-in-

terior of the'bore 13 of the hub? of which, is broached as indicated at 16, Fig. 5, for engagement therewith. The exteriorly extending end of the stem is threaded at 1"? and is provided with a turn-button 18 by which it may be rotated, as is customary.

-The case which, as *hereitibefore indicated, is of more or less conventional type, is formed of a back meniber 19 having a flange. 20, and a front member 21 having 'ajfiange 22 and provided with "the usu'ai "face :opening 23 and 'bezel '24 againstwhich bears the crystal 25 held in 7 place by a retaining member 26 in a conventional manner. The-flanges :and '22 :of the back and front case members -19 and '21,:are provided with suitablebomplemental notches and 28, respectively, which will-permit :the assemblyof the case members upon themovement assemblyby passing around the outwardly .extending portion of the stem and, when the two case members are fully assembled, as illustrated in Fig. 3, will form an opening through which the stem extends.

As will Ibe apparent, particularly from aninspedtion of Figs. 2,3, 4 and 6, the bushing member 9 is provided, adjacent to its outwardly extending end portion, with a circumferential recess 29 "with which the notches of the case a members engage, the recess 2'9 providing a shoulder which overlies and :forms an effective :dust seal'for the opening formed'by the notches :of "the :case members, and a shoulder :31 underlying the opening and complemental to the overv bushing member.

Thus the bushing. member 9 has two "axially spaced bearings in which it may rotate with the stem 14,,oneof these bearings being rcarried .by

:a fixed member. of the movement rrame and being so rigid as :to' substantially prevent :any. such lateral displacement of :the stem, which be imparted thereto .by relative movement of th'e case members and the movement frame, as would cause ithe stem to bind :or cramp and :thus'have its action impaired.

: It will be :seen,.f rom ianinspection of Fig. 2, that, in addition-to :its other :functions'the bushmember :9, by virtue of thekdepth of its recess 10 and theaarrangement of .its shoulder 30, ser-ves to limit the inward and outward movement of the' stem 14. whereby it'is adjusted from -a"win.dingwt01fa settingposition and vice versa.

Various changes and modifications are considered to be within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a watch or the like, a movement including a frame, a case for said movement, a stem extending exteriorly of said case, and means for supportinglsaid' stem against movement transsop versely of the axis of said stem and including a.

bushing member having a bearing in said "frame and a bearing in said case.

,2. Ina watch or the like, a movement including a frame, a case for said movement, said movement provided with a stem extending. exteriorly of said case, and a bushing member providing a support :for said stem against m0vement transversely of the axis of said stem, said "bushing member being rigidly and rotatably supported by said frame and having a bearing in said case.

3. 'ina watch or the like, a movement including a frame, :a casefor said movement, said movement provided with a :stemextendingvexe teriorly of said lease, and a bushing memherfior said stem embracing same throughout :a portion of its length, .said bushing member provided with axially spaced bearings supported by said frame "and case respectively, whereby said stem is rigidly supported against movement .transverselyzof the axis of said stem.

4. :a watch :or the likepa movement having a frame including a bridge plate, a case for movement, said movement provided with a :stem extending .exteriorly of said :case, :andabnshing member for supporting .said stem :againstsmovement :iiransversely ,of the :of said .stem,

bushing member :supported by said bridge :plate and having a bearing insaid ease.

.5. Ina watch :or the like,,a movement having 7 a frame, :a .case for said movement, .said movement provided with ;a stemrextending exteriorly of :said case, and .a bushing member for supporting :inrid zstem against movement ztmnsversely'of the axis of said stem, said bushing mem'her hav an axially rigid rotative bearing relatively to said frame and a .rotative bearing in saddszase.

In a watch or the like, :a movement having .aframe including :a bridge plate, a case :for said movement, said movement provided "with a stem extending exteriorly of said case, and .a bushing member for supporting said stem againstmover ment transversely of the axis of said stem, :said bushing member having an axiallyrigid rotativej bearing on said bridge :plate and a rotative bear ing-insaid case. g

7. In a watcher the like, a movement having a frame, a .caseior said movement, winding and setting mechanism for said movement including a :stem extending exteriorly of said case and a :gear, :a bushing @providing a bearing for .-said .stem, and a member carried by said frame and providing :a support .for said bushing; saidbushing and gear "provided with complemental whereby they may be axially rigidly but rotatively connected with and supported by said *member.

'8. In aiwatch or the .like, a movement having a frame, a case for said movement, windingand :setting mechanism, for said movement including a stem extending exteriorly ofv said base and a gear, a bushingproviding, a :bearing -ifor said stem, 581K138, membercarried by said frame and providing a supportfor said bushing, said bushing and gear provided with 'complemental means whereby they, may be, x all i i but ia- I tively connected with and supported by said member, said bushing provided also with a bearing in said case.

9. ma watch or the like, a movement having a frame, a case for said movement comprising a pair of complemental members provided with telescoping flanges, said movement provided with a stem, the flanges of said case members complementally notched to provide an opening for passage of the stem therethrough, and a bushing for'said stem, saidbushing having a bearing in said frame whereby it is axially rigidly supported and supports the stem, and means on said bushing providing a bearing therefor in the opening of said case and a dust seal for said opening.

10. In a watch or the like, a movement having a frame, winding and setting mechanism for said movement including a stem and a gear, and means for maintaining said stem in axial alignment relatively to said movement, said means including a fixed frame member and a bushing member, said gear and bushing member provided with complemental interengaging means whereby they may be rotatively connected with said frame member in axially fixed relation thereto. I

, 11. In a watch or the like, a movement having a frame, a case for said movement, winding and setting mechanism for said movement including a stem and a gear, and means for maintaining said stem in axial alignment relatively to said movement, said means including a fixed frame member and a bushing member, said gear and bushing member provided with complemental interenga ging means whereby they may be rotatively connected with said frame member in axially fixed relation thereto, said bushing having also means providing a bearing in said case.

12. In a watch or the like, a movement having a frame, winding and setting mechanism for said movement including a stem and a gear, and means for-maintaining said stem in axialalignment relatively to said movement, said means including a fixed frame member and a bushing member, said gear and bushing member provided with complemental interengaging means including a hub on said gear and a recess. in said bushing rigidly united, whereby said gear and ling'for said-stem, said bushing having a bearing in said frame whereby it is axially rigidly supported and supports the stem, and said bushing having a circumferential recess for cooperation with the notches of the case members and bearing therein.

14. In a watch or the like, a movement having a frame including a fixed bridge plate, a case for said movement comprising a pair of complemental members provided with telescoping flanges, said movement provided with a stem, the flanges of said case members complementally notched to provide an opening for passage of the stem therethrough, and a bushing for said stem, said bushinghaving a base flange forming V a relatively extensive lateral bearing on the bridge plate of said frame whereby it is axially rigidly supported and supports the stem, and

said bushing having a circumferential recess for 

